Hello! My name is Gabriela and I am delighted to present our paper on the co-design of health
data representations for older adults on behalf of my co authors Valeria,
Ángeles, and Andrés. This study was developed with older adults from Ecuador and Chile.
Recording and displaying health data is becoming increasingly important;
with technology enabling the monitoring of health data, for example by using smartwatches.
Mobile technologies that enable the recording of health data can benefit
the health care of older adults. For example in
maintaining healthy lifestyles or for assistance in medication management.
Health data have generally been represented using simple statistics or graphs. Many of
these representations are far removed from the interest or experience of older adults,
as most visualizations mainly focus on the of researchers, physicians, and caregivers.
Previous HCI research has sometimes focused on the negative aspects of aging, while other fields of
research, for example, critical gerontology, aim to expand our view about aging, promoting positive
identities and focusing on the capabilities and skills of older adults. In this work,
we aim to co-design health data representations with older adults , allowing them to imagine,
explore, and create representations of health data through the presentation of personal objects.
The context of our study is in South America, more specifically,
both in Chile and Ecuador. I will now very briefly describe the context of each country.
In both countries, the population of older adults has increased. In Chile, by the year
2050, the population over 60 years of age is expected to constitute 30.6% of the population,
while in Ecuador, by the same year, there will be more than three million older adults.
Religion plays an essential role in both countries' social, political, and cultural lives.
Moreover, they are countries that prioritize collective interests over individual ones.
Most Chilean and Ecuadorian older adults live with their family or with
close relatives. Regarding the use of technology among older adults, in Chile,
the possession of smartphones BY OLDER ADULTS increased by 40%, and the Internet by 20%.
In Ecuador, 42% OF OLDER ADULTS own a smartphone, and only 19% own a computer.
The under-inclusion of older adults in imaginative and creative processes when thinking about health
technologies, especially older adults in the geographical context of our study,
who are underrepresented in HCI research, led us to propose the following research
questions: 1) What representations of health data can older adults in the global south imagine
from personal and familiar objects? 2) What considerations should we take
into account when co-designing online with older adults?
In this paper, we propose a co-design approach for older adults to create representations of
health data through the presentation of personal objects. In particular, our approach focuses on
providing a set of simple materials (paper, pencils, modeling clay) to encourage creative
thinking. The contribution of this paper is twofold: first, we share insights into the design
of health data representations for older adults in the global south, and second, we reflect on
co-design online with older adults and lessons learned from this distance design experience.
We organized a remote co-design workshop to engage older adults in Chile and Ecuador in the creation
of health data representation and technologies. To recruit participants, we used snowball sampling.
Prior to the online session, a box of materials was sent to each participant.
The materials consisted of pencils, sheets of paper, an eraser, and modeling clay.
The online session was conducted through the zoom platform.
Our participants were 18 older adults (7 women and 11 men) aged between
60 and 77. Twelve participants were married, four were widowed, and two were divorced.
Most of the participants had completed their university education.
Of the 18 participants, thirteen were retired, and the rest were still working.
During the online session, participants carried out four activities
First, they were asked to introduce themselves.
Second, they were encouraged to think about different types of health data. To do this,
we asked them about their health and how they currently use technology to help them with their
ailments, e.g., alarms, calendars, doctor's notes, and specific health devices.
Third, We asked participants to choose three personal objects, present them and describe
them. As shown in these pictures, they presented objects such as keys, chains, watch or wallets
When we asked older adults to imagine health data representation, they conceptualized
the following three main themes. Our first theme talks about how health data can be represented.
For this theme, we found two sub themes. First, We found participants imagined
embedding technology in everyday objects that are frequently used, such as a belt or a ring,
so that it would not disrupt the environment. The second sub theme is that participants do
not necessarily want information with a statistical, graphical representation.
Our second theme was the creation of technological devices for health monitoring.
For the second theme, we have two sub-themes: On the one hand, health devices connected to
their contextual factors. Participants imagined the technological device's form, where they would
wear it, and what data they would like it to collect. They created devices such as crucifixes
or bracelets. The devices created were closely related to their beliefs and preferences.
The other sub-theme is about Fashion sense in health data representation. Our participants
are interested in technologies that dont overwhelm them and are not disconnected from their reality.
For example, we can see in this slide one participant desire for a bracelet
The third theme was resistance to technology. In this theme, we found that altering the
participants' environment generates resistance to the use of new technological tools.
For example, one participant shared his rejection of digital tools to make his
work. He prefers to use pencil and paper for his architectural designs.
They also navigated negative emotions about the tracking tool because these tools could generate
pressure to meet goals. For them, these devices could turn their life into a kind of machine.
Our participants presented different proposals and individual expectations about health technologies.
Regarding acceptance and trust in technology.
Participants have stated their interest in using health technology and its data
representation when these technologies can be integrated into everyday objects
they already trust. They wanted new technology that would not invade their natural environment.
In terms of ideas for the design of health data representations, our participants have
also expressed a desire for health technologies to display contextual information
for easy interpretation of health data. Another suggestion is that the
information they receive should not cause them unnecessary worry or pressure to meet targets.
Concerning personal and cultural connections. There is an apparent connection with spiritual
objects and objects that make them feel different from others. Researchers and designers
might consider these aesthetic choices alongside cultural fit in creating health technologies
In conclusion, the seniors propose suggestions for designing the health technology and data
visualizations. They have imagined representations of health data in analog formats and images,
where contextual information would be included. At the same time, they propose incorporating
health technology into everyday objects that they already rely on. We encourage developers
and designers to create technologies that display interpreted health information
and benefit older adults with lower levels of numeracy and health information literacy.
Finally, health technologies should be conservative and their design should
take into account the cultural context and personal needs of older adults.